Tuesday 25 October 2011 03.30 EDT
First published on Tuesday 25 October 2011 03.30 EDT

There are many reasons why your wallet could be feeling a little light these days. Maybe it is time to consider how to make your home work a bit harder for you. From clothes to roofs, there is a market for renting out pretty much anything these days (just remember you will have to declare any extra income to the tax man).

1. Storage solutions

If you have a house with a little extra space – perhaps the kids have moved out or you have had a clear out – then think about renting out the space for storage. People who are moving or have too much stuff are always on the look out for economical solutions to their storage issues

Storemates aims to unite people who have extra space with people who need it. Registration is free and you only pay a one-off arrangement fee equivalent to the first two weeks of rent once the cash starts rolling in. It is up to you how much you charge, but the site suggests a maximum of 40%-60% of the amount charged by commercial storage companies.

The site provides a list of items that storers are not allowed to keep at your home, a downloadable contract to use and advice on insurance implications.

2. Unused treasures

We all have items we rarely use, from clothes and electrical appliances to games and garden kit. And they are the kinds of things other people may only want to use occasionally. Sites like RentMyItems are facilitating local "borrowing" by putting the people who need the stuff in touch with the people who have it.

Registration is free, and listing fees start at £1 for one item for one month, up to £110 depending on the number of items and the length of listing. You choose how much to charge and the website provides a form to verify the rental. The website does not take responsibility if things go wrong, but you can choose to charge a deposit to protect yourself.

3. Sell your produce

If you're green fingered and have a garden or allotment producing fruit and vegetable quicker than you can use it, or are good at making preserves but have no one to consume them, why not sell them? Homemade, cheap and organic food is an attractive alternative to the usual supermarket fare for a lot of consumers.

Selling food is subject to regulation such as kitchen inspections, health and safety procedures, and licencing and food safety training. Free registration with environmental health and your local authority is mandatory. It may seem like an effort at first, but the FSA website provides you with a checklist to make sure you've fulfilled all the necessary requirements before you start.

4. Green spaces

If you're not the green-fingered type but have a big garden which you don't make much use of, you could rent the space as an allotment. Consider things such as secure access (no one wants people trekking through their house every half hour), health and safety, and drawing up contracts. Allotments: A Plotholders Guide is a good place to start, as is Landshare, a community of growers and "landlords" of more than 65,000 people.

Alternatively, you could rent out your garden to campers. You can advertise your garden for free on Campinmygarden.com. Decide how much you want to charge and the facilities you have on offer, and away you go.

5. Movie star homes

Ever fancied seeing your home in a film or on TV? Production companies are always on the look out for good sets, so if you own a property that oozes character, has big rooms, period architecture or quirky 70s décor you might be able to make money.

If you are prepared to let someone take over your house, then take a few pictures with a good camera and get in touch with production companies. Alternatively, check that your property qualifies and get yourself registered with a location agency such as Location Works (which is free) or Sarah Eastel Locations. The agency will arrange payments and insurance, and give assurances for the security of your property.

6. Lodgers

If you have a spare room you want to make use of, then renting to a lodger is a good way to make a reliable income from it. The government's Rent a Room Scheme can provide you with £4,250 a year tax-free income. You don't have to be a homeowner to do it, and the scheme also applies to people who already run a bed and breakfast or guesthouse.

7. Rent your couch

Budget travellers are often low on cash and in need of a bed and cup of coffee in the morning, as well as a welcoming home. If you can spare a sofa or mattress then you might just be the answer to the prayers of the many travellers trekking the globe. You can earn money by charging a small fee for someone to stay for a few nights. Services such as AirBnB.com allow you to list for free, choose your guests and arrange availability, and also have procedures for reservation and cancellation. Also check out Rentasofa, and be sure to take care of insurance and the security of valuables – none of the websites will be liable if things go wrong. As well as making money you could get to meet some interesting people.

9. Olympic rentals

With the Olympics less than a year away and people visiting from all over the world, accommodation is being booked up well in advance. Rental prices have risen by an incredible amount in and around London for the period of the games, and people who wouldn't normally let their properties are willing to go that extra mile to see the returns.

10. Rent your roof

An increasing number of energy suppliers are looking for suitable roofs for the installation of solar panels. These schemes are well suited to people looking to save some cash and who are worried about their carbon footprint. Some companies offer free installation and you get the benefit of free energy whenever it is being generated – the rest goes on to the market for the energy supplier to sell.

Before you opt in to any scheme check with the Energy Saving Trust for advice – some experts say paying for your own panels could save you more money in the long run. TrustedSolarPrices.co.uk gives you the opportunity to compare offers from different companies and suppliers.